Grandmother's Song [Paperback]

Barbara Soros (Author), Jackie Morris (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

In the mountains of Mexico, a grandmother passes the seasons with her granddaughter. As the days and nights come and go, grandmother quietly transforms the fearful child into a confident, generous and considerate young woman. Then grandmother dies. Now, the granddaughter must learn to teach her children one of the central mysteries that courses through the cycle of life and death. Full color.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3-Set in the mountains of central Mexico, this is the tale of a grandmother who passes on her strengths (bravery, the gift of healing, dignity, etc.) to her granddaughter by singing to her and stroking her back. When the little girl becomes a mother and then a grandmother herself, she uses singing and stroking to pass these gifts on to her children and grandchildren, who in turn pass them to future generations. Unfortunately, the text of this lengthy picture book is overburdened with heavy-handed descriptions and forced metaphors. Moreover, an author's note explains the New Age belief in the healing power of human touch as an indisputable fact rather than a spiritual belief. More troublesome still is that the author relates the practice of touch healing to the Mexican reverence for dead relatives, an inauthentic cultural connection. Nonetheless, this book cannot be summarily dismissed; the undeniable beauty of the delicate watercolor illustrations, with their dramatic use of line, coupled with soft, earthy tones, lend the characters and landscapes dignity and timelessness. An additional purchase for those interested either in considering New Age ideas or in examining exquisite watercolors.
Denise E. Agosto, formerly at Midland County Public Library, TX
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Barefoot Books (March 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1902283090
• ISBN-13: 978-1902283098
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 9.7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,981,333 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars equistely crafted story and illustrations, November 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Grandmother's Song (Hardcover)

Grandmother's Song is a story for children of all ages and is not limited to older children. I was moved to tears, joyous tears, by the sensitive relationship between grandmother and grandchild. Grandmother through her grounded presence listens into the bone's of her granddaughter's fears and holds and strokes her in her strong arms and generous lap. The bonding is very deep and grandmother soothes her beloved charge day after day year after year and strokes into her qualities she inherited from her grandmother and great grandmother to be able to meet life as a full and integrated woman. Trust, courage, healing, dignity. Granddaughter matures and inturn cares for her grandmother in her last days with the help of her own children. then there is a dream and the death of grandmother and granddaughter comes face to face with the loss and greif of her beloved friend. And then in the height of her grief grandmother's spirit holds and rocks her granddaughter and the granddaughter understand the continuity of life which she passes down to her own children and grandchildren. i and my children welcomed a lusher language than is usually found in picture books. We also welcomed the unusualness of the story. The illusrtations so perfectly match in sensitivity and emotional articulateness the story. The gentle water colours, the authentic settings, the true to life people all deepened the story. And the afterwards by the author intelligently deepens the insights of the story itself. This is a book for Granddmother's and Grandchildren, for children who must deal with loss of a loved one and who may benefit from a sense of resolve. My children ask for it repeatedly and ask me to hold them as the grandmother holds her grandchild. this is truly a classic and I am gratified it is written by another Vermonter. It will endure over the years.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Grandmother's Song, March 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Grandmother's Song (Hardcover)

What a Stunning Book. Profound and original. Powerful and moving. Truly spiritual. In only thirty two pages, in sensitive langauge and glorious illustrations we are privy to the intimate relationship between grandmother and grandaughter and the fears of the child and the comforting presence of the grandmother guiding her granchild into adult hood. The child grows into a strong woman and learns to take care of her grandmother in turn. Love endures after the death of the Grandmother as does Grandmother's spirit. And the death of the grandmother, so sensitively illustrated and the granddaughters sorrow so acutely described make it a perfect book for children and adults who are grieving the loss of a loved one. I use the book in my practice as a grief counselor both with children and adults.. My granchildren love it and I hope I can leave a similiar legacy to my grandchildren as grandmother does in the book. The book is a jewel.

5.0 out of 5 stars Grandmother's Song, March 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Grandmother's Song (Hardcover)

What a Stunning Book. Profound and original. Powerful and moving. Truly spiritual. In only thirty two pages, in sensitive langauge and glorious illustrations we are privy to the intimate relationship between grandmother and grandaughter and the fears of the child and the comforting presence of the grandmother guiding her granchild into adult hood. The child grows into a strong woman and learns to take care of her grandmother in turn. Love endures after the death of the Grandmothe as does Grandmother's spirit. And the death of the grandmother, so sensitively illustrated and the granddaughters sorrow so acutely described make it a perfect book for children and adults who are grieving the loss of a loved one. I use the book in my practice as a grief counselor both with children and adults. . My granchildren love it and I hope I can leave the same legacy to my grandchildren as grandmother does in the book. This book is a jewel.